Category: Other Datsuns

Cruising on my daily craiglist searches (alfa, tr6, 3.0csi…and of course datsun!), I found a really nice ’77 Datsun 280z for sale. It was listed for $21k+. My, how prices of the S30 Z’s have gone up, but even more so, I’m glad! haha a rising tide lifts all ships, yeah? :]

Anyways, the one thing that really stood out on this ’77 is its engine bay. Wow. But let’s first check out the outside – because it’s gotta look good inside and out!

What got me was the engine bay. Unlike the 240z and 260z before it, the 280z was born with certain genetic pre-conditions – increase in safety standards, heavier parts, more complicated systems and notoriously: stricter emission standards. Yes, the 280z was born with the ERG valve vestigial digit. The bad teeth of fuel injection. Scraggly hair of cables and wires. The MAF funny laugh.

These aren’t necessarily bad things. They’re just something that must be managed. And THIS car has done such a great job managing all that unsightliness and with a color scheme to boot.

Things that help with a well managed, very nice looking engine bay?

1) Cleanliness – Engines are dirty and need cleaning every now and again. While cars older than the 280z, especially carbureted, have less parts making it easier to clean (less parts, more empty space to get around those parts), newer cars have nice wide shrouds to cover all the small parts (big cover pieces just take a nice wipe down). The 280z was blessed with the worst of both worlds – it’s packed with lots of exposed parts. But a negative can always be turned into a positive: keeping those parts clean can help highlight the maze like intricacies.

2) Organization – Once you’ve gotten the little traps free from grime, it’s time to get them in order. Chaos can make sense when properly organized. Think a book shelf: lots of different colors, shapes and sizes but when organized things can be found, followed, and admired. Those spark plug wires? On trees and straightened. Wires around the fuel rail? Bundled and cinched together. The more parallel lines created, the more uniform and organized it will look. Even the traffic of wires above can look orderly!

“I have a colorful personality!
Look at me!”

3) Look / Color Scheme – With all the parts in any space, keeping a unified look can help bring it all together. Like the mugs of rascals in a boy scout troop – all different faces, but orderly when wearing all the same uniform. And with the right color, you can make a scene pop! The one above carries the blue from the original air intake across various engine parts: clamps, elbows, covers, caps, labels. Though deep purple and light teal are an uncommon combination, it still works to me because any purple car already screams “I have a colorful personality! Look at me!”.

In the age of Photoshop, you can definitely pre-plan, saving time and money. A super fun tool I also use when designing is Adobe’s Color CC (previously called Kuler). Monochromatic, complimentary, triad – there’s so many great combinations to choose from, you’ll end up using it to repaint your house!

Whether the cabin interior, under carriage or engine bay, if it’s clean, well organized and uniform, it will help complete the car as a whole and show just that little extra pride and care to tie it all together.

From the Bay Area Datsun Z Facebook community, I met Hector, owner of a 1972 240z! What a great guy, and he really needed Z flares. I just happen to have them! Actually, I had them for quite awhile, initially thinking they’d be on the 280z, but my dad convinced me otherwise (which was a good decision for the style of my car). Regardless, they’ve gone to a good home!

Hector’s 240z is powered by a L28et (turbo’d) riding on BC coilovers. Just check out that whale tail!

My 280z may not have the killer stance / looks of the ZG flares, but the NEXT Z will DEFINITELY have them on!

Holy finds! Who doesn’t like scavenging around Craigslist?! What’s that saying: “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure”?! Oh the treasures!

Ready for this?! There’s a free Z on Craigslist! Whoa! A 1977 Datsun 280z was listed on CL in the free section (one of my favorite sections), without engine and transmission, mismatched wheels, multi-colored and a few dents, to say the least.

I’ve heard of the ZG (g-nose racer), and the 432 (4 valves, 3 carbs, 2 camshafts), but a ZL? Interesting!

Here’s a short clip of the rare model, it’s owner, and just dreamy shots of it along the CA coast. Note the rear spoiler, very sweet vintage racing seats, rare race clock (i want oooonnnne!), and right hand drive. Thanks to my Gee cuz, Jackie for sending this over!

I was home from travel for a brief day, and rolled up to pick up some food. Here’s this guy wavin me into the parking spot…

280z, huh? lookin’ nice. yeah yeah i got a 240 myself…

Meet Steve. Owner of a 1973 240z. Here’s his story:

He bought it at Downtown Datsun in downtown San Jose. They had it priced in the paper, but quickly realized it was just an advertisement car, one of those discounted cars just to get customers in and sell them on another car for which the salesman can “get you a better value on”. You see, he went in just as the ’74’s were coming out, so no one wanted this ’73. More over, the 240z was the test driver so seats were worn… And according to Steve, the sales guy was a big dude.

He walked out that door with that ’73 240z for only $2700. Didn’t need much: a tune up, clean up the interior.

It’s been a while since then, but he’s been taking his time restoring it.
Now all it needs is paint. :]

haha i’m sure i could’ve talked to this guy for an afternoon about the Z’s. And then the evening about his El Camino.